Northern Experience Wildlife Tours

Seal and Seaduck Special 08/12/2012

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

It may sound like a very esoteric curry, but the Northern Experience Wildlife Tours Seal and Seaduck Special, in association with Billy Shiel's Farne Island Boat Trips, on Saturday 8th December 2012 is an opportunity to sail around the Farne Islands and see the Grey Seal colony with this year's crop of pups. After sailing around the islands, the trip will cruise north to Holy Island and then back down the stunning North Northumberland coast in search of Harbour Porpoise, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Black Guillemot and other winter wildlife. There are a few places left so call 01670 827465 for more details or to book your space. Date: Saturday 8th December 2012 Time: 10:00 Departs: Seahouses Harbour Duration: 4hrs Cost: £30/adult, £20/child Contact: Martin Kitching, 01670 827465 or martin@newtltd.co.uk

Leading the Wild Pack

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

NORTHERN EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE TOURS Press notice 20 February 2012 EMBARGO DATE; Immediate release LEADING THE WILD PACK A groundbreaking Northumberland wildlife tour company has had its commitment to the environment honoured with a prestigious national award following its first assessment. Northern Experience Wildlife Tours (NEWT) has been given the highest possible grading by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), making the Scotland Gate based company the only Wildlife Tour Operator in England to hold a GTBS GOLD Award for its commitment to sustainable tourism and the environment. NEWT owner Martin Kitching said “it’s a great honour to achieve a GOLD Award from GTBS, which is the only certification scheme for tourism in the UK to be endorsed by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales. As well as minimising our impact on the environment as far as possible we contribute to conservation research, with our offshore trips in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds generating data that has been used in the Marine Conservation Zones project, and our regular safari trips throughout Northumberland contributing records of our land-based wildlife.” Wendy Fail, GTBS Grading Assessor said "Northern Experience Wildlife Tours is an excellent example of how a small business can become more sustainable. Martin is extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable; this passion is infectious and is clearly displayed through his business ethic. His efforts have been rewarded with a GOLD Green Tourism Award, which is a fantastic achievement for an entry level business". Martin will be one of the speakers at a Sustainable Tourism event for local businesses in Berwick Town Hall on March 6th, where he will describe the contribution that nature-based tourism can make to the sustainability of Northumberland’s tourism industry. As Martin explained “tourism is a vital contributor to the economy of Northumberland, and the sustainability of the environment and the sustainability of our local tourism industry go hand in hand.” For more information about Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, visit www.newtltd.co.uk or call Martin or Sarah on 01670 827465. ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS Northern Experience Wildlife Tours was founded in 2006 by former teacher Martin Kitching, offering guided wildlife, birdwatching and photography day trips, tuition and package holidays throughout North East England year-round and offshore wildlife cruises in June, July, August, September, November and December. Martin has organised offshore wildlife trips from Northumberland since 1998 and was one of the finders of the first Wilson's Petrel to be seen in the British North Sea. He is the former Field Trips Officer for the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club and former editor and author, and current sub-editor, of the highly rated annual report, Birds in Northumbria. Martin is also Chair of the South East Northumberland Tourism Association (SENTA). Northern Experience Wildlife Tours are a partner in the groundbreaking North East Cetacean Project www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk and part of the Birdwatching Northumberland consortium which promotes Northumberland as a birdwatching destination. For more information visit: www.newtltd.co.uk Northumberland Sustainable Tourism Event at Berwick Town Hall, March 6th. The event is being organised by the North Northumberland Tourism Association, with support from the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and the Northumberland National Park Authority. Tickets are only £10 and include a lunch of local fare from some of Northumberland’s finest producers. Places can be booked by calling Iain Robson on 01665 511206 or email event@nnta.org Green Tourism Business Scheme is the only tourism certification program in the UK endorsed by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales and has been validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism since 2008. Operated by a not-for-profit organisation, Green Business, there are over 2,300 GTBS members through the UK and Ireland. Businesses are graded by qualified environmental assessors and those that meet the standard are awarded either: BRONZE, SILVER or GOLD. This is based on fulfilling a number of criteria incorporating; energy and water efficiency, purchasing, waste minimisation, management and communication. Businesses can benefit from significant marketing advantage and reduced running costs of up to 20%. For more information visit: www.green-business.co.uk Press contact; Martin Kitching, 01670 827465 martin@newtltd.co.uk

Are you an early bird?

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A 5am start may seem like the middle of the night, but Sunday May 1st 2011 at Lee Moor Farm, Rennington (nr Alnwick), is the ideal time and place to introduce you to the wildlife that is active at that time of day, when Martin Kitching of Northern Experience Wildlife Tours leads a walk to celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day 2011. As Martin explained "there really isn't a better time of the day to enjoy birdsong, and the Dawn Chorus is one of the great wonders of the natural world". Ian Brown, who's family have farmed Lee Moor for three generations said "I get to enjoy the stunning wildlife of the Northumberland countryside throughout the year and I'm delighted that, for the 3rd year in succession, Martin is leading a walk for us to celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day". Sunday May 1st, 05:00-08:00 Adults £6, Children £4 Enquiries and Bookings Call 01670 827465 International Dawn Chorus Day Lee Moor Northern Experience Wildlife Tours

Rib-tickling Wildlife Fun

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Northern Experience Wildlife Tours and ‘Glad Tidings’ Farne Island Boat Trips Embargo Date; 17/02/2011 10:00 Rib-tickling wildlife fun Two of Northumberland’s leading wildlife tour operators are joining forces this summer to bring a groundbreaking offshore experience to visitors to the North Northumberland coast. Northern Experience Wildlife Tours (NEWT) and Billy Shiel’s Farne Island Boat Trips have created a series of ‘Rib-tickling Northumbrian Wildlife Tours’ using the RIB (rigid inflatable boat) Ocean Explorer. With Minke Whale, Harbour Porpoise, White-beaked Dolphin and a range of seabirds all possible the trips are sure to prove popular with visitors to Seahouses and the surrounding area. Martin Kitching, who owns NEWT, explained the benefits for the local economy “the tourism industry is an incredibly important part of Northumberland’s economy so, by working together on this groundbreaking project, our trips will make Northumberland an even more attractive place for holidaymakers and bring increased trade to local businesses. In uncertain times for tourism, we’re doing all we can to raise the profile of Northumberland as a holiday destination. The winter may be a quiet time, but we’ve spent it developing our new products and bouncing ideas around”. William Shiel said “We’ve had Ocean Explorer for a little while now and , after working closely with NEWT on their September Whale & Dolphin Cruises, we were keen to explore the wildlife watching possibilities that a fast boat offers. Having Martin onboard as a wildlife guide will really add to the visitor experience. With our skipper’s knowledge of the local area, and Martin’s research for the Northeast Cetacean Project, we can take visitors to the best locations. These evening trips will complement our existing range of boat trips to the Farne Islands, and bring a very different experience”. The trips will take place on selected weekday evenings from mid-July until late-August. The route will depend on the weather conditions and recent wildlife sightings but with the combination of offshore wildlife and iconic locations like Dunstanburgh Castle, Holy Island and the Farne Islands all within the area that the trips will cover, it’ll be an unforgettable experience for visitors to our beautiful county. As well as the trips being open to the general public, Martin and William said that bespoke trips for groups of up to 12 can be arranged. To find out more about this year’s trips, call Martin on 01670 827465 or William on 01665 720308. NOTES TO EDITORS Northern Experience Wildlife Tours Northern Experience Wildlife Tours was founded in 2006, offering guided wildlife, birdwatching and photography trips throughout Northeast England all year-round and offshore wildlife cruises in July, August and September. Northern Experience owner, Martin Kitching, has organised offshore wildlife trips from Northumberland since 1998 and was one of the finders of the first Wilson's Petrel to be seen in the British North Sea. Martin is the former Field Trips Officer for the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club and former editor and author, and current sub-editor, of the highly rated annual report, Birds in Northumbria. Martin is Lead Surveyor for the Northeast Cetacean Project and a member of the northeast regional hub of Netgain (the North Sea Marine Conservation Zones Project). Further information can be found by visiting our website at www.northernexperiencewildlifetours.co.uk ‘Glad Tidings’ Farne Island Boat Trips The Shiel family began taking boat trips to the Farne Islands in 1918, and in the 1930’s the business as it exists today really got going. Billy Shiel began working with his father at the age of 14 and has been operating out of Seahouses for over 60 years, now joined by his son William. The Glad Tidings fleet of boats have carried thousands of passengers across to the Farne Islands. In 1997 Billy Shiel was awarded an MBE for his services to tourism in Northumberland. Further information can be found by visiting our website at www.farne-islands.com

Setting out to sea

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

After 13 years of leading offshore wildlife trips in the North Sea, Northern Experience Senior Guide Martin Kitching is looking forward to this year's programme of trips with the same sense of anticipation as in all of those previous years. As well as leading hundreds of hours of offshore wildlife watching, Martin is Lead Surveyor for the Northeast Cetacean Project and a member of the northeast regional hub for Netgain (the North Sea Marine Conservation Zones Project). Asked for the highlight of his North Sea pelagic trips, Martin finds it hard to pick one stand-out moment "finding the first Wilson's Petrel for the British North Sea, in 2002, on an extraordinary morning that also produced sightings of 2 Ocean Sunfish, was a birdwatching highlight, but the White-beaked Dolphins on our groundbreaking Farne Deeps pelagic in 2010 possibly just achieve that accolade". Far from being a hard-bitten cynical businessman, Martin's primary concern is conservation - "Being involved with the Netgain Project, and studying the distribution of White-beaked Dolphins and other marine mammals as part of the Northeast Cetacean Project, has really hammered home how important it is that we protect and preserve our seas for future generations of all the groups that use our offshore waters. Being a responsible, environmentally-aware, business that helps to raise the profile of local conservation seems a good part of the foundation of that" For details of the 2011 Northern Experience Pelagics click here.

A decade of whales, dolphins and seabirds

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

NORTHERN EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE TOURS Press notice 30 June 2010 EMBARGO DATE; Immediate release A DECADE OF WHALES, DOLPHINS AND SEABIRDS A groundbreaking Northumberland company is celebrating 10 years of organising boat trips from the River Tyne and adding to the store of scientific knowledge on the distribution of some of our most mysterious wildlife. Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, based in Scotland Gate, have been operating their unique Northumberland wildlife safaris since 2008 but Martin Kitching, owner and senior guide, began the Northumberland pelagic programme in 1998, initially operating out of Blyth before joining forces with Allan Skinner, skipper of the SarahJFK, in 2001. With ten years of boat trips from the Tyne behind him, there have been some impressive highlights, as Martin explained “We’ve had some incredibly close views of Minke Whales, including 2 feeding close to the boat in 2007, White-beaked Dolphins, Gannets, Fulmars, petrels, shearwaters, skuas and even Ocean Sunfish. Allan’s skill as a boatman has been invaluable to our trips and we’ll be working with him for many years to come”. The success of Martin’s pelagic trips led to him being appointed as Lead Surveyor for the Northeast Cetacean Project (NECP), a joint project between Natural England, Marinelife, Northern Experience Wildlife Tours and the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club, which is using targeted surveys, casual sightings records and the Northern Experience Pelagics to map the distribution and abundance of whales, dolphins and seabirds in the North Sea off Northeast England. This year’s Northern Experience Pelagics which run on Friday evenings in late July and early August, as well as the first and third Saturdays in September, are proving as popular as ever but Martin is always keen to see new faces “We always have a good mix of experienced and less-experienced passengers on board and our pelagics have always been really enjoyable social events as well as offering the opportunity to search for some of the most iconic wildlife that occurs around our coast”. To find out more about this year’s trips, call Martin on (01670) 827465. ENDS Martin Kitching Northern Experience Lead Surveyor Tel: +44 (0) 1670 827465 E: martin@newtltd.co.uk NOTES TO EDITORS North East Cetacean Project The project was initiated to discover more about the whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) found off the Northumberland coastline. A sightings website and postcard survey have been launched to engage the public in the project and gather more information on these species from the multiple work and pleasure craft which will be out on the waters of the North Sea off the Northumberland Coast from spring 2010. Further information can be found at http://www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk/ Marinelife Marinelife is a Charitable Limited Company established to co-ordinate and develop a growing portfolio of global research and monitoring projects. Through these we aim to further the conservation of the wildlife of coasts and oceans through scientific investigation and educational activities. Marinelife continues to work in partnership with a number of other research groups, spearheading an international initiative, the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC) that aims to describe changes in the status of whales and dolphins at a European scale. Further information on Marinelife can be found by visiting our website at http://www.marine-life.org.uk/ Natural England Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 their work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public. Northern Experience Wildlife Tours Northern Experience Wildlife Tours was founded in 2006, offering guided wildlife and bird-watching trips throughout Northeast England year-round and offshore wildlife cruises in July, August and September. Northern Experience owner, Martin Kitching, has organised offshore wildlife trips from Northumberland since 1998 and was one of the finders of the first Wilson's Petrel to be seen in the British North Sea. Martin Kitching is the former Field Trips Officer for the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club and former editor, and current author, and sub-editor, of the highly rated annual report, Birds in Northumbria. Further information can be found by visiting our website at http://www.northernexperiencewildlifetours.co.uk/ Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club The Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club was founded in 1958 and membership is open to all with a beneficial interest in ornithology. The club aims to provide members with news of local ornithological interest through monthly bulletins, the annual report for the area, Birds in Northumbria, and other occasional publications. Indoor meetings, with guest speakers, take place on the second Thursday of each month from September to April, at the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club, and there are regular Field Trips throughout the year. http://www.ntbc.org.uk/ International Year of Biodiversity 2010 has been designated as International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations. Since 2002 some 200 countries have been working towards targets to significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity. In the UK this is being led by the Natural History Museum funded by DEFRA and supported by over 150 partners including Natural England. The focus will be to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity, why it matters to everyone at both a global and local level, and to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding biodiversity by outlining threats as well as accomplishments by individuals, communities and governments to the problem. It will be a chance for people to get involved and help conservation efforts needed to save our native species which are currently being lost at a rate 100 times greater than the natural rate of extinction and explain how we can all play a part in achieving this. Press contact; Martin Kitching, 01670 827465 martin@newtltd.co.uk

Help us Monitor North East Whales and Dolphins

Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

NORTHERN EXPERIENCE, MARINELIFE, NATURAL ENGLAND, ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY AND NORTHUMBERLAND & TYNESIDE BIRD CLUB PRESS RELEASE 12/05/2010 EMBARGO; Immediate release HELP US MONITOR NORTH EAST WHALES AND DOLPHINS Sightings website and postcard survey launches In January this year, a partnership of organisations launched the North East Cetacean Project (NECP) to discover more about dolphins and whales off the Northumberland coast. The partnership includes Marinelife, Natural England, the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club, the University of Aberdeen, and Northern Experience Wildlife Tours. A series of winter surveys, funded by Natural England and lead by Martin Kitching of Northern Experience Wildlife Tours were undertaken, targeted in the cold, deep waters of the Farne Deeps, which have been described by local fishermen as an important wintering ground for White-beaked Dolphin. The surveys generated some both anticipated and unexpected results. Harbour Porpoise, a small cousin of dolphins, were, as anticipated, encountered during the surveys. However, rather than White-Beaked Dolphin, a species limited in distribution to the colder waters of the Atlantic, Common Dolphin, a warmer water species was found. Dr Tom Brereton, Marinelife Research Director who analysed the results commented “This was disappointing but not unexpected as Common Dolphins have been spreading north in recent years, presumably due to warming sea temperatures. However, occurrence in Northumberland waters is a potential cause of concern because studies in other regions have shown that the arrival Common Dolphins coincides with a corresponding disappearance of White-beaked Dolphins.” The project also analysed data submitted by members of the public since 2003, with the majority of sightings being recorded from land. The results indicate that whales and dolphins are possibly changing their North Sea distributions. There is an urgent need for more offshore data to fully understand these changes, especially in light of new Government initiatives to improve conservation measures in our seas. To this end the project has now launched a sightings website (www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk) and a postcard survey from this spring to engage the local community, including local fishermen, recreational dive and angling boats, yachtsmen, pleasure craft operators and the general public to get involved and help increase the understanding on where dolphins, whales and porpoises are found off the North East coast of England. The website and the postcards contain information on the different species which are likely to be encountered and requests information on the number of each species seen, where the sighting was made and when. Dr Martin Kitching, lead surveyor from Northern Experience said: “With the start of the spring and summer season, the number of boats on the water will increase and this offers a great opportunity to find out more about the whales, dolphins and porpoises off the Northumberland coast – please get in touch with your sightings and help us with this important research project. How you can help: If you see a dolphin or whale, please report the information to us. You can use our online recording form at www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk, fill in a sightings postcard, available from North East Cetacean Project (NECP), 18 Frances Ville, Scotland Gate, Northumberland, NE62 5ST, or phone in you sightings to NECP co-ordinator Martin Kitching on 01670 827465 or mobile: 07908 119535. - ends – For further information including interviews and images please contact: Adrian Shephard Marinelife PR & Publicity Officer Tel: +44 (0) 7789 657617 E: adrian.shephard@marine-life.org.uk Dr Tom Brereton Marinelife Research Director Tel: +44 (0) 7816 786173 E: tom.brereton@biscay-dolphin.org.uk Dr Martin Kitching Northern Experience Lead Surveyor Tel: +44 (0) 1670 827465 E: martin@newtltd.co.uk David Hirst Press Officer, Natural England North East Tel: 03000 601720 E: david.hirst@naturalengland.org.uk NOTES TO EDITORS North East Cetacean Project The project was initiated to discover more about the whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) found off the Northumberland coastline. A sightings website and postcard survey have been launched to engage the public in the project and gather more information on these species from the multiple work and pleasure craft which will be out on the waters of the North Sea off the Northumberland Coast during from spring 2010. Further information can be found at www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk Marinelife Marinelife is a Charitable Limited Company established to co-ordinate and develop a growing portfolio of global research and monitoring projects. Through these we aim to further the conservation of the wildlife of coasts and oceans through scientific investigation and educational activities. Marinelife continues to work in partnership with a number of other research groups, spearheading an international initiative, the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC) that aims to describe changes in the status of whales and dolphins at a European scale. Further information on Marinelife can be found by visiting our website at www.marine-life.org.uk Natural England Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public. • We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved. • We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation. • We run England’s Environmental Stewardship green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland. • We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats. Northern Experience Wildlife Tours Northern Experience Wildlife Tours was founded in 2006, offering guided wildlife and bird-watching trips throughout Northeast England year-round and offshore wildlife cruises in July, August and September. Northern Experience owner, Martin Kitching, has organised offshore wildlife trips from Northumberland since 1998 and was one of the finders of the first Wilson's Petrel to be seen in the British North Sea. Martin Kitching is the former Field Trips Officer for the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club and former editor, and current author, and sub-editor, of the highly rated annual report, Birds in Northumbria. Further information can be found by visiting our website at www.northernexperiencewildlifetours.co.uk International Year of Biodiversity 2010 has been designated as International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations. Since 2002 some 200 countries have been working towards targets to significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity and in the UK this is being led by the Natural History Museum funded by DEFRA and supported by over 150 partners including Natural England. The focus will be to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity, why it matters to everyone at both a global and local level, and to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding biodiversity by outlining threats as well as accomplishments by individuals, communities and governments to the problem. It will be a chance for people to get involved and help conservation efforts needed to save our native species which are currently being lost at a rate 100 times greater than the natural rate of extinction and explain how we can all play a part in achieving this.

Batty about Moths

Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

NORTHERN EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE TOURS and LEE MOOR FARM Press notice 04 May 2010 EMBARGO DATE; Immediate release BATTY ABOUT MOTHS As the sun goes down in mid-May, rarely seen creatures begin to emerge and a local wildlife detective will be on the hunt. With a moth trapping session and bat walk, as well as a BBQ, Lee Moor Farm near Alnwick is the place to be for National Moth Night 2010, on May 15th. The guide for the evening will be Martin Kitching, of Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, who has many years experience of these mysterious flying creatures of the night. Martin explained “with a well-managed farm there’s lots of food and shelter for insects, including moths, and this encourages bats, which come in search of a tasty snack. We’ll be using bat detectors, which allow us to hear the sounds that bats make, and a trap which attracts moths with a light and provides a place for them to hide where we can identify them and then release them safely.” Ian Brown, who recently celebrated 60 years of his family farming at Lee Moor, added “we’re proud of our environmental stewardship of Lee Moor and very happy that Martin has agreed to come along and lead this event for us, showcasing the wildlife that benefits from our efforts. As well as the moth-trapping demonstration and bat walk we’re having a BBQ, which people can bring their own food to, so the whole evening will be an enjoyable social event as well as educational and, above all, fun”. Starting at 7.30pm and continuing until well after dark, the cost for attending this event is £9/adult, £5/child. For further details contact Martin on 01670 827465 or Ian on 01665 577253 ENDS Editor’s notes Northern Experience Wildlife Tours was founded in 2006, offering guided wildlife and birdwatching trips throughout Northeast England year-round and Whale and Dolphin Cruises in July, August and September. Martin Kitching is the former Field Trips Officer for the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club, former editor, and current author, of the highly rated annual report, Birds in Northumbria. Martin is also Chair of the Southeast Northumberland Tourism Association and the activity provider’s network, Outdoors Northumberland. Ian Brown is the third generation of his family, spanning 60 years, to farm at Rennington. He is a rural entrepreneur and sustainability consultant, showing a strong sense of stewardship with his management of Lee Moor Farm, which is a ‘let Nature feed your senses’ host site. National Moth Night http://www.nationalmothnight.info/ Press contact; Martin Kitching, 01670 827465 martin@newtltd.co.uk or Ian Brown 01665 577253 ian@leemoor.net

The early bird catches a big breakfast

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

NORTHERN EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE TOURS, BLACK OLIVE CAFÉ and LEE MOOR FARM Press notice 26 April 2010 THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES A BIG BREAKFAST Have you ever listened to birds singing and wondered just what bird is making the wonderful noises you can hear? If you have, then International Dawn Chorus Day 2010 brings an opportunity to learn much more about bird song in the company of a local expert near the historic Northumbrian town of Alnwick. Martin Kitching of Northern Experience Wildlife Tours will be leading a walk around Lee Moor Farm near Alnwick on Sunday May 2nd, starting at 05:00. Martin said “As a wildlife guide I’m often asked about bird song by my clients. It may seem to be a mystery but it really shouldn’t be, and when we focus on bird song, our clients develop their knowledge and skills quickly. After leading a number of events at Lee Moor Farm last year it was an easy decision to base our Dawn Chorus event there again this year, and a Northumbrian Breakfast at the Black Olive Café is the perfect way to round off the early start”. Ian Brown - the third generation of his family to farm at Rennington said "I’m able to listen to wonderful birdsong in the morning and the opportunity to share this with visitors and local residents, alongside Martin’s expertise in identifying and describing the wildlife that we have on the farm, is an exciting prospect" Dave and Tina Hogg set up The Black Olive Café at Lee Moor in 2008 and are specialising in home made quality. Dave commented “Lee Moor is a haven for wildlife and when Tina and I come in before 6am most days, to make up our fresh specialist sandwiches, we have been amazed at the diversity of birds and other wildlife close to the café." The charge for attending this event is £12/adult, £10/child, including a full Northumbrian breakfast at the Black Olive Café. For further details about the event, please contact Martin on (01670) 827465. ENDS Editor’s notes Northern Experience Wildlife Tours was founded in 2006, offering guided wildlife and birdwatching trips throughout Northeast England year-round and Whale and Dolphin Cruises in July, August and September. Martin Kitching is the former Field Trips Officer for the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club, former editor, and current author, of the highly rated annual report, Birds in Northumbria. Martin is also Chair of the Southeast Northumberland Tourism Association and the activity provider’s network, Outdoors Northumberland. Ian Brown is the third generation of his family to farm at Rennington. He is a rural entrepreneur and sustainability consultant, showing a strong sense of stewardship with his management of Lee Moor Farm, which is a ‘let Nature feed your senses’ host site. International Dawn Chorus Day http://www.idcd.info/index.asp Press contact; Martin Kitching, 01670 827465 martin@newtltd.co.uk or Ian Brown 01665 577253 ian@leemoor.net

Halloween Walk at Bamburgh Castle

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE Release Date: 21st October 2009 Productive Partnerships the Way Forward Fresh from winning a Silver award at the North East England Tourism Awards Bamburgh Castle has formed what it hopes will be another winning formula with Northern Experience Wildlife Tours (NEWT). The two companies have got together to offer a Halloween Walk in and around the grounds of the castle. Taking in Mortuary Woods, an Anglo-Saxon burial ground and the castle grounds themselves, the walks aims to look at the abundant wildlife present in this area, which is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Chris Calvert from Bamburgh Castle said “We were looking for a way of providing a different offer for Halloween and I’d spoken to Martin Kitching (NEWT) on several occasions this year about getting together on a project. This seemed like an original idea and we both realise the value of working in partnerships such as this”. Martin Kitching founder of NEWT said “Northumberland’s wildlife is often found amongst spectacular scenery and Bamburgh Castle and its surroundings are a breathtaking example of this. Nocturnal wildlife is a particular favourite of mine so this project was one that we got very excited about when Chris approached us with the idea” Both companies realise that the way forward in tourism is the formation of partnerships such as this to continually improve and add variety to what is offered to the visitors both local and from further afield. The walk leaves from the castles own car park at 4.30pm on Saturday 31st October. Appropriate footwear, clothing and a torch are essential. Adult £12, Seniors £10, Children (Over 6) £6, Includes pumpkin soup and freshly made bread. Call Martin on 01670 827465 to book your place.

A Riot of Colour in the Dark

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

NORTHERN EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE TOURS and LEE MOOR FARM Press release 3 September 2009 A RIOT OF COLOUR IN THE DARK They may not always get good publicity, so you would probably be surprised to learn that, rather than small, brown and dull, moths come in a range of shapes, sizes and colours. The Elephant Hawkmoth, for example, is lime green and fluorescent pink, the Death’s Head Hawkmoth has an eerie skull-shaped mark on its back, and these are just two of the thousands of species found in Britain. National Moth Night 2009 is on September 18th and 19th, and this year is focusing on moth migration, but one local wildlife guide, Martin Kitching of Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, is leading an event at Lee Moor Farm near Alnwick on Saturday September 12th. As Martin explained “I’d already been booked to lead events on the two evenings of National Moth Night, but the opportunity to study the moths at Lee Moor was too great to resist. With its well managed habitat, Lee Moor Farm has the potential to produce a wide range of moths in our trap”. Ian Brown, who farms at Lee Moor, added “we’re proud of our environmental stewardship of Lee Moor and very happy that Martin has agreed to come along and lead this event for us, showcasing the wildlife that benefits from our efforts. As well as the moth-trapping demonstration we’re having a BBQ, which people can bring their own food to”. Starting at 7pm and continuing until well after dark, the cost for attending this event is £5/adult, £3/child. For further details contact Martin on 01670 827465 or Ian on 01665 577253

Whale, Dolphin and Seabird Cruise

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Date: September 12th 2009 Time: 10:00 Departs: Seahouses Harbour Cost: £30/adult £20/child This 4 hour wildlife and birdwatching cruise, organised by Northern Experience Wildlife Tours in association with Billy Shiel, takes us into the North Sea off the Northumberland Coast AONB. With several experienced guides on board, our chances of spotting whales, dolphins and seabirds will be as high as they possibly can. Minke Whale, White-beaked Dolphin, Sooty Shearwater, petrels and skuas are all possibilities at this time of the year. 'Phone 01670 827465 to book your place now.

NEWT at the Kielder Walking Festival

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Martin Kitching of Northern Experience Wildlife Tours will be leading a wildlife walk on Wednesday 9th September as part of the Kielder Walking Festival. Starting at 4:30pm at the Blackcock Inn, Falstone, this 5 mile, 3 hour walk is at a moderate level and costs £8/person. Parking is available at the Blackcock Inn and there's a special “pub supper” offer with walk ticket, only £3.50 for pie/pasty, chips and peas. Binoculars useful.

Things that go Squeak in the Night

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Join Northern Experience Wildlife Tours and The Swan at Choppington, on either August 28th or September 17th, for an evening discovering local wildlife, eating good food and enjoying great company. The evening will include a welcome drink at The Swan, a guided wildlife tour of Choppington Woods Local nature Reserve, including moth trapping, bat detecting and nocturnal wildlife watching, followed by a 2 or 3 course meal at The Swan. Cost £23/adult, £18/child including 3-course meal, £20/adult, £15/child including 2-course meal (Children will be served half-portions). Booking is essential so 'phone 01670 826060 to book your place.

The Early Bird gets the Dawn Chorus

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, Black Olive Café and Lee Moor Farm The early bird gets the Dawn Chorus Issue Date: 17/04/09 Embargo Date: Available for immediate publication An event which has to be on most peoples list of things to do in Northumberland....get up and listen to the dawn chorus with an expert who can explain what you are hearing Tourism and wildlife are coming together near the historic Northumbrian town of Alnwick to celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day 2009, Sunday May 3rd, starting at 05:00. Lee Moor Farm is the venue for a Dawn Chorus Walk and Northumbrian Breakfast led by Martin Kitching of Northern Experience Wildlife Tours. Martin said “With hedges, ponds, woodland, reedbed and grass margins, Lee Moor supports those scarce and declining farmland birds such as Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and Grey Partridge that are a part of our natural heritage. After visiting the farm I knew instantly that this would make an excellent venue for a Dawn Chorus walk, and a Northumbrian Breakfast at the Black Olive Café is the perfect way to round off the early start”. Ian - the third generation of the Brown Family to farm at Rennington said "I have the opportunity of birdsong in the morning and dark starlit nights perhaps 100 days a year and for me to share this with tourists and local residents, along with Martin's depth of knowledge of wildlife identification, is an exciting proposition. I can imagine those on the tour will be talking about this day out for years to come." Dave and Tina Hogg set up The Black Olive Café at Lee Moor in 2008 and are specialising in home made quality. Dave commented "We have just launched a local food hamper service and this event adds to our links with tourists, and native Northumbrians, who want to experience the landscape and wildlife close up. Lee Moor is a haven for wildlife and Tina and I are in before 6am most days to make up our fresh specialist sandwiches and we have been amazed at the sheer diversity of birds and animals we see each day as we come into work". For further details about the event, contact Martin on (01670) 827465. ENDS International Dawn Chorus Day Lee Moor Farm Northern Experience Wildlife Tours

Whales, waders and wildfowl

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Northern Experience Wildlife Tours are pleased to announce that we are leading a 'whales, waders and wildfowl' weekend, based at St Cuthbert's House, Seahouses; Dates; Thursday 10th September 2009 – Sunday 13th September 2009 Accommodation; 3 nights full-board at St Cuthbert's House Activities; 3 full days guided wildlife watching with Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, including a 4-hour Whale and Dolphin cruise on Saturday 12th September Cost; £340/person (based on two people sharing) Detailed description; Based at St Cuthbert's House, the programme will begin with a slide show after dinner on our first evening, highlighting the landscapes and wildlife of Northumberland. Friday will be spent on Holy Island and the North Northumberland coast, searching for migrant passerines, waders, wildfowl and the raptors that hunt them. After dinner on Friday evening we will have Martin Kitching's ‘A Summer of Pelagic Seabirding’ presentation – a mixture of still images, video clips and anecdotes that detail the development of offshore wildlife trips in the North Sea. Saturday’s main event is a 4 hour whale and dolphin cruise from Seahouses. This is a Northern Experience event in conjunction with Billy Shiel’s Farne Island Boat Trips. As this is open to general booking, there will be at least three Northern Experience guides on board to ensure that everyone receives a professional level of attention from our guides. Saturday evening’s after-dinner session will be an open forum where you can ask questions about Northumberland, its wildlife, identification queries that perplex you; in fact, you can test Martin to his limits! Our wildlife weekend concludes on Sunday morning with an excursion to the area south of Seahouses, in search of Water Rails, Short-eared Owls and other birds of the coastal strip. Places are limited so 'phone +44 (0)1670 827465 for further details or visit the St Cuthbert's House website to book your place now.

NEWT in the Sunday Telegraph

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The article about the weekend that Lee Karen Stow spent with us in January appeared in the Sunday Telegraph on 22nd February. You can read it by following this link.

Family discount during half-term

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

To celebrate the half-term holiday next week, Northern Experience Wildlife Tours are offering a special family discount on our Tuesday 17th and Friday 20th February Otter Safaris; our full-day price, including transport within Northumberland and a picnic lunch, for a family with 2 or 3 children is just £160 - a discount of £40 per child on our normal price. Call us now on01670 827465 to book your Otter Safari

Twittering and Birding in the Northeast

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Northern Experience Wildlife Tours has entered into partnership with Bird North East to provide trip reports, supplementing their regularly updated bird sightings from Northeast England. NEWT is also now on Twitter, where you can follow our wildlife sightings (our username is NEWTLtd) like today's Waxwings in Cramlington and Roe Deer just outside Bedlington (not a bad haul for the drive home after filling the Landrover with fuel).

NEWT 2009 Itinerary

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Our 2009 schedule of events is now live on the website. We will be adding more to the calendar over the next few weeks as we finalise details of our new weekend breaks. The ones already confirmed are in association with Saughy Rigg Farm from 29-31 May and 23-25 October. Places are limited so book early to ensure you are able to join us on one of these fantastic North Pennines Weekends. As always, we try to be as flexible as we can about trip dates so if what you require isn't on the calendar then please give us a call.

One of the 10 best...

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

...wildlife holidays in the UK, according to an article in The Guardian today. Our plans for 2009 will make Northern Experience an even better choice for a wildlife holiday as we are adding short breaks into our itinerary; so far we have 3-night breaks in the North Pennines (Black and Red Grouse, waders, woodlands and wildflowers) planned for May and October, based at Saughy Rigg, and we are working with an excellent accommodation provider in Seahouses to finalise the details for some exclusive wildife-watching holidays on the Northumberland coast. Contact us for further details.

NEWT Online Shop goes live

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

It is now possible to purchase Gift Vouchers for Mini-safaris, Safari Days or Prestige Tours through our new online shop. It's the quick, easy, safe and secure way to buy an unusual and memorable present (or to book a natural history excursion or birdwatching tour for yourself). Once we have your order we will contact you (as we do with all of our bookings) to check who the voucher is for so that we can personalise the information that is included in the gift pack. There's still time to purchase Northern Experience Gift Vouchers as Christmas Presents and we are busy processing orders as soon as they are received. Our Seal Safaris are also in the online shop (including a special family discount) and we will regularly be adding other products, including some which will be new for 2009.

The Guardian of our Wildlife

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Jessica Aldred from The Guardian had her first visit to Northumberland last weekend, and spent it in the company of Martin and Sarah. We won't spoil her story, so if you want to know what new wildlife she saw on her Northumberland Safari weekend click here.

BBC Look North on Safari

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Paul Paxton from BBC Look North joined us for a Safari Day, initially looking for Red Squirrels and Otters close to our base in Wansbeck, but then venturing further afield into the wilds of Allendale where he obtained some excellent footage of Black Grouse

Wildlife Safaris in Northumberland?

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

They really are available, as Sarah Walton from BBC Radio Newcastle discovered when she came to Newbiggin by the Sea to interview Northern Experience owner Martin Kitching. Interview Available.